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Tallying Panama Papers Impact, One Change At A Time

The Panama Papers offers “compelling evidence” of the global impact of investigative journalism, according to a new study that highlights at least 147 distinct responses to the investigation by authorities around the world.

The Reuters Institute at Oxford University found that authorities had launched investigations or official inquiries in nearly half the countries that were the subject of reporting. “Substantial legal, regulatory or policy changes,” were implemented by about one-in-five countries or international bodies, according to the report.

“[The findings] offer compelling evidence of the powerful impact that high-profile investigative journalism can have in terms of drawing public attention to a problem, prompting authorities to hold people accountable, and in many cases helping to bring about long-term change,” the study concludes.